BOTTLE DETAILS

• DISTILLER: Maker's Mark Distillery
• MASH BILL: 70% Corn | 16% Wheat | 14% Malted Barley
• AGE: officially 11 years, but 13- and 14-year-old bourbons are blended in
• YEAR: 2025
• PROOF: 112.9 (56.45% ABV)
• MSRP: $174.99
• BUY ONLINE: This is not available online. Limited sales begin at the 2025 Kentucky Bourbon Festival (Sept. 5-7), and sales to the public begin September 15.

STEVE'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: All bourbon fans, fans of old whiskey and of course, Maker's Mark devotees. For those who know only Maker's flagship 90 proof, turn them on to this.

WORTH THE PRICE: Like every limited and expensive special release that comes in September (which also is National Bourbon Month), price worthiness is judged by the wallet or purse of the beholder. I'm not the kind of buyer who readily parts with $175 for bottles, but as I write often, if you have the cash, you won't be sorry about the whiskey.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bar first for most, given its price.

OVERALL: First, a quick recap of the Cellar Aged story. A decade ago, Maker's blew a deep hole into a hillside on its campus to create the world's first Whisky Cave (later renamed the Limestone Cellar). Here, whiskies that had aged 6 years in Kentucky's harsh temperature extremes inside rickhouses, would be moved to rest further in less-harsh 47-degree air. Created initially for aging barrels destined for the Maker's 46 line, the company's Private Select program soon followed and, judging by the age of the whiskey I'm reviewing here, future Cellar Aged releases also were in the mix.

In 2023, the first Maker's Mark Cellar Aged iteration was released at 11 years old. Blended with 12-year whiskey, it was the oldest Maker's Mark bourbon ever released. I reviewed it and loved it, and in 2024, I reviewed that year's release (12 years old) and loved it even more.

Now we come to Cellar Aged 2025, which is technically 11 years old (74% of the barrels used were of this age), though 13-year-old (10% of the barrels used) and 14-year-old (16% of the barrels used) bourbons are in the blend of 245 total barrels.

The nose is complex and spicy, laden with toffee, caramel and ripe stone fruits. Toasted oak really shines, as does lemon peel. Stick with it to get what Maker's lead blender, Beth Buckner, describes as "creamy fudge." No denying that note, but don't think it's a dessert whiskey only. It dances adroitly with more savory foods such as grilled meats and vegetables.

On the palate abundant flavors shift from ripe green and red apples to toasted oak, toasted wheat bread and bruleed sugar to light caramel and campfire. Each subsequent sip warms the palate while affixing layers of cinnamon and baking spice. My notes from that day's call included "flat Dr. Pepper," as in rich, deeply sweet and bold. That combination leads to a warm, long, semi-dry and lightly chocolatey finish.

If you're curious about which of the three I like best, thanks to Buckner, writers on the call were provided 50ml reference samples of Cellar Aged '23 and '24. On that day, I thought '24 would stay my favorite before swinging over to the new '25. Ten days later, I prefer the '23 to the other two, which proves how much one's palate can change daily. Just trust me: each release is excellent.

My shifting preferences also point out how delicious and keenly unique every batch of Cellar Aged actually is. And that has me thinking ... Maybe that $174.99 price tag isn't as high as I initially thought.

BRAND NOTES

When creating Cellar Aged, we set out to do something new without forgetting who we are or what we stand for. Creating a bourbon that’s always aged to taste, not time. A bourbon without the bite, that’s always smooth. Aging our whisky for over a decade wasn’t something we ever did. Not because we didn’t believe in it, but because we hadn’t found our way of doing it. In many ways, Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged defines an older whisky that’s distinctly Maker’s. One rooted in challenging convention, asking "what if" and building on a taste vision that’s generations in the making. By embracing both the maturation impact of our traditional warehouse and the unique maturation impact of our Limestone Cellar, we’ve created an expression that's richer and complex, without the bitterness. The 2025 release is a blend of 11-, 13- and 14-year-old Maker’s Mark, delivering a fruitier, deeper and darker bourbon.

AROMA: Vibrant with notes of dark brown sugar, caramelized oak, and baked apple.

TASTE: Robust with a balance of creamy fudge, toasted almond, and ripe dark cherry.

FINISH: Viscous with butterscotch, orange zest, and soft baking spice.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.